Patents by Inventor Yongjing Lin

Yongjing Lin has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20250118563
    Abstract: One or more embodiments of the disclosure are directed to methods of forming structures that are useful for FEOL and BEOL processes. Embodiments of the present disclosure advantageously provide methods of depositing a gapfill material, such as titanium nitride (TiN), in high aspect ratio (AR) structures with small dimensions. Some embodiments advantageously provide seam-free high-quality TiN films to fill high AR trenches with small dimensions. Embodiments of the present disclosure advantageously provide methods of filling 3D structures, such as FinFETs, GAAs, and the like, with a gapfill material without creating a seam. One or more embodiments include selective deposition processes using a carbon (C) layer in order to provide seam-free TiN gapfill in 3D structures, such as GAA devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2023
    Publication date: April 10, 2025
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Yongjing Lin, Zhihui Liu, Shih Chung Chen, Haoyan Sha, Alexander Jansen, Zhebo Chen, Janardhan Devrajan, Tza-Jing Gung
  • Publication number: 20250081593
    Abstract: Methods of manufacturing electronic devices, such as transistors (negative metal-oxide-semiconductor (NMOS) transistors (e.g., an N-metal stack) and positive metal-oxide-semiconductor (PMOS) transistors (e.g., a P-metal stack)) are described. Embodiments of the disclosure are directed to methods of improving PMOS transistor performance by inhibiting N-metal layer growth. The present disclosure provides two types of processes to reduce or inhibit N-metal layer growth. The disclosure provides methods which include forming a self-assembled monolayer (SAM) on the metal surface (e.g., titanium nitride (TiN)) of the PMOS, and methods which include forming a silicon-containing layer such as silicon oxide (SiOx) on the TiN surface. These two types of processes significantly reduce or inhibit the subsequent growth of an N-metal layer, such as titanium aluminum carbide (TiAlC), on the TiN surface of the PMOS.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2023
    Publication date: March 6, 2025
    Applicant: Applied Materials ,Inc
    Inventors: Yongjing Lin, Zhihui Liu, Sourav Garg, Lu Li, Haoming Yan, Haoyan Sha, Bhaskar Jyoti Bhuyan, Shih Chung Chen, Janardhan Devrajan, Srinivas Gandikota
  • Publication number: 20250046600
    Abstract: One or more embodiments of the disclosure are directed to methods of forming structures that are useful for FEOL and BEOL processes. Embodiments of the present disclosure advantageously provide methods of depositing titanium nitride (TiN) in high aspect ratio (AR) structures with small dimensions. Some embodiments advantageously provide seam-free high-quality TiN films to fill high AR trenches with small dimensions. Embodiments of the present disclosure advantageously provide methods of filling 3D structures, such as finFETs, GAAs, and the like, without creating a seam. The methods include selective deposition processes using blocking compounds in order to provide seam-free TiN gapfill in 3D structures, such as GAA devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2023
    Publication date: February 6, 2025
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Muthukumar Kaliappan, Zhebo Chen, Michael Haverty, Yongjing Lin, Shih Chung Chen, Gang Shen, Alexander Jansen, Janardhan Devrajan
  • Publication number: 20240204061
    Abstract: Methods of manufacturing and processing semiconductor devices (i.e., electronic devices) are described. Embodiments of the disclosure advantageously provide methods to reduce the resistance of the work function layer of an electronic device, as well as using a low resistivity metal for filling the gate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2022
    Publication date: June 20, 2024
    Inventors: Srinivas Gandikota, Yixiong Yang, Yongjing Lin, Tuerxun Ailihumaer, Tengzhou Ma, Yuanhua Zheng, Zhihui Liu, Shih Chung Chen, Janardhan Devrajan, Yi Xu, Yu Lei, Mandyam Sriram
  • Patent number: 11996455
    Abstract: Methods of forming and processing semiconductor devices are described. Certain embodiments related to electronic devices which comprise a dipole region having an interlayer dielectric, a high-? dielectric material, and a dipole layer. The dipole layer comprises one or more of titanium aluminum nitride (TiAlN), titanium tantalum nitride (TiTaN), titanium oxide (TiO), tantalum oxide (TaO), and titanium aluminum carbide (TiAlC).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Yongjing Lin, Karla M Bernal Ramos, Shih Chung Chen, Yixiong Yang, Lin Dong, Steven C. H. Hung, Srinivas Gandikota
  • Publication number: 20240087899
    Abstract: Methods of manufacturing and processing semiconductor devices (i.e., electronic devices) are described. The methods include treating a surface of a metal gate stack with a radical treatment. The radical treatment may be used to treat one or more layers or surfaces of layers in the metal gate stack. The radical treatment may be performed once or multiple times during the methods described herein. The radical treatment comprises flowing one or more of nitrogen radicals (N2*) and hydrogen radicals (H*) over the surface of the metal gate stack.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2022
    Publication date: March 14, 2024
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Zhihui Liu, Seshadri Ganguli, Tianyi Huang, Yixiong Yang, Srinivas Gandikota, Yuanhua Zheng, Yongjing Lin, Keyur Karandikar, Elizabeth Mao
  • Patent number: 11888045
    Abstract: Methods of forming and processing semiconductor devices are described. Certain embodiments related to electronic devices which comprise a dipole region having an interlayer dielectric, a high-? dielectric material, and a dipole layer. The dipole layer comprises one or more of titanium lanthanum nitride (TiLaN), titanium yttrium nitride (TiYN), titanium strontium nitride (TiSrN), titanium magnesium nitriride (TiMgN, titanium aluminum nitride (TiAlN), titanium tantalum nitride (TiTaN), hafnium carbide (HfC), hafnium nitride (HfN), hafnium oxynitride (HfON), hafnium oxycarbide (HfOC), hafnium carbide aluminum (HfCAl), hafnium aluminum nitride (HfAlN), or hafnium carbonitride (HfCN).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Yongjing Lin, Karla M Bernal Ramos, Luping Li, Shih Chung Chen, Jacqueline S. Wrench, Yixiong Yang, Steven C. H. Hung, Srinivas Gandikota, Naomi Yoshida, Lin Dong
  • Publication number: 20230313378
    Abstract: Substrate support, substrate support assemblies and process chambers comprising same are described. The substrate support has a thermally conductive body with a top surface, a bottom surface and an outer edge, and a plurality of long edge purge channel outlet opening at the outer edge of the thermally conductive body. The substrate support is configured to support a substrate to be processed on a top surface of the substrate support. The top surface of the thermally conductive body may have a ceramic coating. Each of the plurality of purge channel outlet is in fluid communication with a long edge purge channel. The long edge purge channel is coated with a long edge purge channel coating. A substrate support assembly includes the substrate support and the support post coupled to the substrate support. The processing chamber include a chamber body and the substrate support within the chamber body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2022
    Publication date: October 5, 2023
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Yongjing Lin, Lei Zhou, Muhannad Mustafa, Shih Chung Chen, Zhihui Liu, Chi-Chou Lin, Bin Cao, Janardhan Devrajan, Mario D. Silvetti, Mandyam Sriram
  • Publication number: 20230295803
    Abstract: Methods of forming metal-containing films for electronic devices (e.g., logic devices and/or memory devices) and methods for reducing equivalent oxide thickness (EOT) penalty in electronic devices are disclosed. The methods comprise exposing a substrate surface to a metal precursor, such as titanium chloride (TiCl4), a reducing agent, such as a cyclic 1,4-diene, and a reactant, ammonia (NH3), either simultaneously, partially simultaneously or separately and sequentially to form the metal-containing film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2023
    Publication date: September 21, 2023
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Haoming Yan, Shih Chung Chen, Mandyam Sriram, EunKee Hong, Janardhan Devrajan, Lakmal C. Kalutarage, Yongjing Lin, Lisa Michelle Mandrell, Arkaprava Dan
  • Publication number: 20230253466
    Abstract: Methods of forming and processing semiconductor devices are described. Certain embodiments related to electronic devices which comprise a dipole region having an interlayer dielectric, a high-? dielectric material, and a dipole layer. The dipole layer comprises one or more of titanium aluminum nitride (TiAIN), titanium tantalum nitride (TiTaN), titanium oxide (TiO), tantalum oxide (TaO), and titanium aluminum carbide (TiAIC).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2023
    Publication date: August 10, 2023
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Yongjing Lin, Karla M Bernal Ramos, Shih Chung Chen, Yixiong Yang, Lin Dong, Steven C.H. Hung, Srinivas Gandikota
  • Publication number: 20230193463
    Abstract: Gas distribution apparatuses, e.g., showerheads, comprise passages having a first conical bore section, a small bore section, and a second conical bore section. The first conical bore sections comprise a first non-perpendicular wall angle relative to a back surface of a faceplate. The second conical bore sections comprise a second non-perpendicular angle to a front surface of the faceplate. The conical sections including non-perpendicular angles are effective to mitigate and/or eliminate changes in flow parameters through the passages after bead blast processes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2022
    Publication date: June 22, 2023
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Shashidhara Patel H B, Madhuri Kalva, Sreenivasa Rao Nunna, Shih Chung Chen, Yongjing Lin, Bin Cao
  • Patent number: 11658218
    Abstract: Methods of forming and processing semiconductor devices are described. Certain embodiments related to electronic devices which comprise a dipole region having an interlayer dielectric, a high-? dielectric material, and a dipole layer. The dipole layer comprises one or more of titanium aluminum nitride (TiAlN), titanium tantalum nitride (TiTaN), titanium oxide (TiO), tantalum oxide (TaO), and titanium aluminum carbide (TiAlC).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Yongjing Lin, Karla M Bernal Ramos, Shih Chung Chen, Yixiong Yang, Lin Dong, Steven C. H. Hung, Srinivas Gandikota
  • Publication number: 20230113514
    Abstract: Processing methods described herein comprise forming a metal gate film on a narrow feature and a wide feature and depositing a hard mask on the metal gate film. The hard mask forms on the metal gate film at a top, bottom and sidewalls of the wide feature and on a top of the narrow feature to cover the metal gate film. Some processing methods comprise oxidizing the metal gate film on the narrow feature to convert a portion of the metal gate film to a metal oxide film. Some processing methods comprise etching the metal oxide film from the narrow feature to leave a gradient etch profile. Some processing methods comprise filling the narrow feature and the wide feature with a gap fill material comprising one or more of a metal nitride, titanium nitride (TiN) or titanium oxynitride (TiON), the gap fill material substantially free of seams and voids.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2021
    Publication date: April 13, 2023
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Shih Chung Chen, Yongjing Lin, Chi-Chou Lin, Zhiyong Wang, Chih-Hsun Hsu, Mandyam Sriram, Tza-Jing Gung
  • Publication number: 20230005945
    Abstract: Methods of forming memory structures are discussed. Specifically, methods of forming 3D NAND devices are discussed. Some embodiments form memory structures with a metal nitride barrier layer, an ?-tungsten layer, and a bulk metal material. The barrier layer comprises a TiXN or TaXN material, where X comprises a metal selected from one or more of aluminum (Al), silicon (Si), tungsten (W), lanthanum (La), yttrium (Yt), strontium (Sr), or magnesium (Mg).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2022
    Publication date: January 5, 2023
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Jacqueline S. Wrench, Yixiong Yang, Yong Wu, Wei V. Tang, Srinivas Gandikota, Yongjing Lin, Karla M Bernal Ramos, Shih Chung Chen
  • Publication number: 20220367236
    Abstract: Some embodiments of the disclosure relate to methods of modifying a heater pedestal to improve temperature and thickness uniformity. Some embodiments of the disclosure relate to the modified heater pedestals with improved temperature and thickness uniformity. In some embodiments, the height of support mesas in different regions of the pedestal are modified to increase temperature uniformity. In some embodiments, the heater elements are moved above the vacuum channel and purge channel to increase temperature uniformity. In some embodiments, the edge ring is modified to be coplanar with the top of a supported substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2021
    Publication date: November 17, 2022
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Muhannad Mustafa, Yongjing Lin, Satish Radhakrishnan, Haoyan Sha, Shih Chung Chen, Mario D. Silvetti, Mandyam Sriram, Vijay D. Parkhe
  • Patent number: 11476267
    Abstract: Methods of forming memory structures are discussed. Specifically, methods of forming 3D NAND devices are discussed. Some embodiments form memory structures with a metal nitride barrier layer, an ?-tungsten layer, and a bulk metal material. The barrier layer comprises a TiXN or TaXN material, where X comprises a metal selected from one or more of aluminum (Al), silicon (Si), tungsten (W), lanthanum (La), yttrium (Yt), strontium (Sr), or magnesium (Mg).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Jacqueline S. Wrench, Yixiong Yang, Yong Wu, Wei V. Tang, Srinivas Gandikota, Yongjing Lin, Karla M Bernal Ramos, Shih Chung Chen
  • Publication number: 20220165854
    Abstract: Methods of forming and processing semiconductor devices are described. Certain embodiments related to electronic devices which comprise a dipole region having an interlayer dielectric, a high-K dielectric material, and a dipole layer. The dipole layer comprises one or more of titanium aluminum nitride (TiAIN), titanium tantalum nitride (TiTaN), titanium oxide (TiO), tantalum oxide (TaO), and titanium aluminum carbide (TiAIC).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2022
    Publication date: May 26, 2022
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Yongjing Lin, Karla M. Bernal Ramos, Shih Chung Chen, Yixiong Yang, Lin Dong, Steven C.H. Hung, Srinivas Gandikota
  • Publication number: 20220115516
    Abstract: Methods of forming and processing semiconductor devices are described. Certain embodiments related to electronic devices which comprise a dipole region having an interlayer dielectric, a high-? dielectric material, and a dipole layer. The dipole layer comprises one or more of titanium lanthanum nitride (TiLaN), titanium yttrium nitride (TiYN), titanium strontium nitride (TiSrN), titanium magnesium nitride (TiMgN, titanium aluminum nitride (TiAlN), titanium tantalum nitride (TiTaN), hafnium carbide (HfC), hafnium nitride (HfN), hafnium oxynitride (HfON), hafnium oxycarbide (HfOC), hafnium carbide aluminum (HfCAl), hafnium aluminum nitride (HfAlN), or hafnium carbonitride (HfCN).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2021
    Publication date: April 14, 2022
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Yongjing Lin, Karla M. Bernal Ramos, Luping Li, Shih Chung Chen, Jacqueline S. Wrench, Yixiong Yang, Steven C.H. Hung, Srinivas Gandikota, Naomi Yoshida, Lin Dong
  • Patent number: 11289579
    Abstract: Methods of forming and processing semiconductor devices are described. Certain embodiments related to electronic devices which comprise a dipole region having an interlayer dielectric, a high-? dielectric material, and a dipole layer. The dipole layer comprises one or more of titanium aluminum nitride (TiAlN), titanium tantalum nitride (TiTaN), titanium oxide (TiO), tantalum oxide (TaO), and titanium aluminum carbide (TiAlC).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Yongjing Lin, Karla M Bernal Ramos, Shih Chung Chen, Yixiong Yang, Lin Dong, Steven C. H. Hung, Srinivas Gandikota
  • Patent number: 11276569
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein relate to manufacturing layer stacks of oxide/nitride (ON) layers with minimized in-plane distortion (IPD) and lithographic overlay errors. A method of forming a layer stack ON layers includes flowing a first silicon-containing gas, an oxygen-containing gas, and a first dilution gas. A RF power is symmetrically applied to form a first material layer of SiO2. A second silicon-containing gas, a nitrogen-containing gas, and a second dilution gas are flowed. A second RF power is symmetrically applied to form a second material layer of Si3N4. The flowing the first silicon-containing gas, the oxygen-containing gas, and the first dilution gas, the symmetrically applying the first RF power, the flowing the second silicon-containing gas, the nitrogen-containing gas, and the second dilution gas, and the symmetrically applying the second RF power is repeated until a desired number of first material layers and second material layers make up a layer stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Yongjing Lin, Tza-Jing Gung, Masaki Ogata, Yusheng Zhou, Xinhai Han, Deenesh Padhi, Juan Carlos Rocha, Amit Kumar Bansal, Mukund Srinivasan